Device to facilitate the drying of woollen articles after laundering



June 26, 1962 p, c ws 3,040,903

DEVICE T0 FACILITATE THE DRYING OF WOOLLEN ARTICLES AFTER LAUNDERING Filed NOV. 19, 1959 PATRICIA EM.

CHEM/5 50 Inventor A Item eys United States Patent 3,040,903 DEVICE T0 FACILITATE THE DRYING 0F WDQLLEN ARTICLES AFTER LAUNDERING Patricia E. M. Crews, Coega, District Port Elizabeth,

Cape Province, Union of South Africa Filed Nov. 19, 195?, Ser. No. 854,184 Claims priority, application Union of South Africa Nov. 19, 1958 6 Claims. (Cl. 211-119) This invention relates to a device for drying woollen articles such as skins after slaughtering, and garments after laundering, or for supporting articles which are liable to lose their shape if hung up after laundering.

As is well known, woollen garments tend to lose their shape if hung up to dry after having been washed, but tend to retain the shape in which they are laid out, if laid flat for drying.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for the rapid drying of hides and laundered garments, and which will support them in their proper shape while being dried.

According to the invention, an article drying support includes a pair of frames each having a plurality of spaced thin transverse members, spacing means for maintaining the transverse members in face-to-face spaced relationship at variable distances between them, and support means for supporting the pair of frames upright in spaced relationship.

The invention may include one or more of the following features.

The material employed in the construction of the frames must be impervious to moisture and such that it will not mark or stain a damp woollen article when held in pro longed contact with it.

In addition, the area of contact between the article and the transverse members must be small so as to interfere as little as possible with the circulation of air. For these reasons the transverse members are preferably resiliently flexible and made from wire or cord material, e.g. fine galvanized Wire, plastic-coated wire or aluminium alloy wire, drawn taut between outer frame members, which may be made of wood or metal, such as wire or a suitable aluminium alloy of any convenient cross-section.

The support means may include a stand or suspension means such as hooks, loops, or the like. A stand may include a drip-tray. If desired, apair of frames adapted to be suspended from hooks, or the like may be provided along the bottom with a further hook or hooks for supporting a depending drip-tray.

Further featuures of the invention will become apparent from the following description of specific embodiments with reference to the drawings and is given by way of example only.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a front elevation of a pair of frames with a woollen article supported between them;

FIGURE 2 shows a detail of a hook in sectional side elevation;

FIGURE 3 shows various forms of spacing means;

FIGURE 4 shows diagrammatically a front elevation of a suspendible drip-tray; and

FIGURE 5 shows diagrammatically, in front elevation, alternative embodiments of the invention.

Reference numeral It) refers to a frame having a pinrality of spaced thin transverse members :12 of plasticcoated resiliently flexible wire, and longitudinal stiffening members 14 bent to form shoulders 16 and hooks 18. The shoulders 16 of the one frame are adapted to sup- 3,040,903 Patented June 26, 1962 port the other frame, when the first frame is suspended from its hooks 18.

The pair of frames 10 are maintained face-to-face, transverse members 12 towards each other in narrow spaced relationship by spacing means 20 in the form of clothes pegs to support a Woollen article 22 between the frames 10. The transverse members 12 are flexible and are adapted to permit slight variations in the spacing between the frames 10, to allow the transverse members 12 to pass over varying thicknesses of the article 22.

Referring to FIGURE 3(a), 24 refers to a special limb of a clothes peg type spacing spring clip, having a plurality of spaced recesses 26 adapted to receive opposing transverse members 12 of the frames 10 in spaced relationship, the recesses being spaced from the nose towards the spring (not shown) adapted to be received into recess 28.

FIGURE 3(b) shows a clip 30 of blade spring type having spaced recesses 26a.

FIGURE 3(a) shows comb-like spacing means 31 having eye 32 adapted to pivot about a transverse member 12 of a frame it) and having a plurality of spaced teeth 33' defining recesses 34 between them adapted to receive the transverse members 12 of the opposing frame.

FIGURE 3(d) refers to a round rubber plug 36 having axially spaced circumferential grooves 38 within which adjacent transverse members 12 of a frame are receivable.

FIGURE 3(e) shows a link-type hook 40 adapted to provide a fixed spacing between frames.

FIGURE 4 shows a drip'tray 42 having a handle 44 by means of which it is suspendible from a lower pair of hooks 18 below a pair of frames 10. The drip-tray 42 may be dispensed with out of doors.

FIGURE 5 shows a pair of frames 10 supportable on a stand 59 which may include a drip-tray 52. The frames may be provided with a hood 54 to provide shade in fierce sunlight to reduce fading of colours in a garment. This hood 54 may be provided whether the frames 10 are supported by a stand 54 or by hooks 18.

In use, an article after laundering is placed in its shape between the frames, and clips spaced around the article outline to ensure the proper spacing apart of the frames. A lot of water in the article drips out and the remainer dries relatively quickly due to the large exposed area and free aid circulation. The transverse members 12 support the article 22 in its proper shape without sag and without exerting undue pressure.

Use of this invention in drying woollen garments can ensure quick drying without squeezing the garments thus reducing, matting, felting and shrinkage. And in the drying of skins, skins are dried more quickly and unifonmly and With better retention of shape than with conventional methods. The quick drying reduces losses due to bacterial action.

I claim:

1. An article dryer comprising a pair of opposed resiliently flexible frames adapted to receive an article to be dried between them, a plurality of spaced thin resiliently flexible transverse members, secured to each of the frames, the opposed resiliently flexible transverse members of the frames being adapted to engage resiliently in wrap-around fashion the opposite sides of the article for holding it in position and for providing uniform support to it while permitting of its rapid drying due to ventilation upon both its sides, at least one outwardly projecting shoulder fast with at least one of the frames of the pair and adapted to support the other frame of the pair, spacing means engageable with the transverse members around the article periphery to maintain the frames in closely spaced opposed face to face relation and the transverse members in wrap-around fashion on opposing sides of the article, and support means to support that frame, having the shoulder, in an upright position.

2. An article dryer comprising a pair of opposed resiliently flexible frames adapted to receive an article to be dried between them, a plurality of spaced thin resiliently flexible transverse members secured to each of the frames, the opposed resiliently flexible transverse members of the frames being adapted to engage resiliently in wrap-around fashion the opposite sides of the article for holding it in position and for providing uniform support to it while permitting of its rapid drying due to ventilation upon both its sides, a pair of laterally spaced outwardly projecting shoulders fast with at least one of the frames of the pair and adapted to support the other frame of the pair, spacing means engageable with the transverse members around the article periphery to maintain the frames in closely spaced opposed face to face relation and the transverse members in wrap-around fashion on opposing sides of the article, and support means to support in an upright position that frame having the shoulders and comprising suspension means which include at least one hook at one end of the frame having the shoulders, the hook having a shank end which is fast with the frame, there being provided a pair of resilient longitudinal members fast with the other frame and laterally spaced apart an amount corresponding to the lateral spacing between the pair of shoulders of the frame having the shoulders; whereby the opposed frames locate each other laterally in position by coaction between the shoulders of the one frame and the longitudinal members of the opposing frame when the frames are in opposed face to face coacting relationship.

3. An article dryer comprising a pair of opposed resiliently flexible frames adapted to receive an article to be dried between them, a plurality of spaced thin resiliently flexible transverse members secured to each of the frames, the opposed resiliently flexible transverse members of the frames being adapted to engage resiliently in wrap-around fashion the opposite sides of the article for holding it in position and for providing uniform support while permitting of its rapid drying due to ventilation upon both its sides, at least one outwardly projecting shoulder fast with at least one of the frames of the pair and adapted to support the other frame of the pair, support means to support in an upright position, that frame having the shoulders, and spacing means engageable with the transverse members around the article periphery to maintain the frames in closely spaced opposed face to face relation and the transverse members in wrap-around fashion on opposing sides of the article and comprising a plurality of spaced catches each having a plurality of spaced teeth and a plurality of spaces between the teeth and having an eye engaging with a transverse member of one of the frames, the opposing transverse member of the other one of the frames being receivable within any one of the spaces between the teeth to permit of variable spacing between the opposed transverse members.

4. An article dryer comprising a pair of opposed resiliently fllexible frames adapted to receive an article to be dried between them, a plurality of uniformly spaced resiliently flexible transverse members secured to each of the frames, the opposed resiliently flexible transverse members of the frames being adapted to engage resiliently in wrap-around fashion the opposite sides of the article for holding it in position and for providing uniform support to it while permitting of its rapid drying due to ventilation upon both its sides, at least one outwardly projecting shoulder fast with at least one of the frames of the pair and adapted to support the other frame of the pair, support means to support, in an upright position, that frame having the shoulder, and spacing means engageable with the transverse members around the article periphery to maintain the frames in closely spaced opposed face to face relation and the transverse members in wrap-around fashion on opposing sides of the article and comprising a plurality of resiliently flexible cylindrical plugs spaced around the article elevational contour, each plug having a plurality of axially spaced circumferential grooves, the thickness of a plug corresponding to the uniform spacing between the transverse members on the frames, the plug being receivable between a pair of adjacent transverse members of the one frame and between a pair of adjacent transverse members of the other frame and opposed to the first pair of adjacent transverse members, the plugs spanning the space between the opposed pair of transverse members and having grooves spaced a distance apart corresponding to the thickness of the article to be dried and engaging with the opposed pair of transverse members.

5. An article dryer comprising a pair of opposed resiliently flexible frames adapted to receive an article to be dried between them, a plurality of spaced thin resiliently flexible transverse members secured to each of the frames, the opposed resiliently flexible transverse members of the frames being adapted to engage resiliently in wrap-around fashion the opposite sides of the article for holding it in position and for providing uniform support to it while permitting of its rapid drying due to ventilation upon both its sides, a pair of laterally spaced outwardly projecting shoulders fast with at least one of the frames of the pair and adapted to support the other frame of the pair, spacing means engageable with the transverse members around the article periphery to maintain the frames in closely spaced opposed face to face relation and the transverse members in wrap-around fashion on opposing sides of the article, and support means to support in an upright position that frame having the shoulders and comprising suspension means which inc-lude a pair of hooks in laterally spaced relation at one end of the frame having the shoulders, each hook having a shank end fast with the frame, the shank end of each hook being shaped adjacent the end of the frame to form one of the outwardly projecting shoulders, there being provided a pair of resilient longitudinal members fast with the other frame and spaced laterally apart an amount corresponding to the lateral spacing between the pair of shoulders of the frame having the shoulders; whereby the opposed frames locate each other laterally in position by coaction between the shoulders of the one frame and the longitudinal members of the opposing frame when the frames are in opposed face to face coacting relationship.

6. An article dryer comprising a pair of identical opposed resiliently flexible frames adapted to receive an article to be dried between them, a plurality of spaced thin resiliently flexible transverse members secured to each of the frames, the opposed resiliently flexible transverse members of the frames being adapted to engage resiliently in wrap-around fashion the opposite sides of the article for holding it in position and for providing uniform support to it while permitting of its rapid drying due to ventilation upon both its sides, a pair of outwardly projecting shoulders fast with one of the frames of the pair and adapted to support the other frame of the pair, spacing means engageable with the transverse members around the article periphery to maintain the frames in closely spaced opposed face to face relation and the transverse members in wrap-around fashion on opposing sides of the article, and support means to support in an upright position that frame supporting the other frame and comprising suspension means which include a pair of hooks in laterally spaced relation at one end of each frame, each hook having a shank end secured to the frame, the shank end of each hook being shaped adjacent the end of the frame to form one of the outwardly projecting shoulders, there being provided a pair of resilient longitudinal members fast with each frame and spaced laterally apart an amount corresponding to the lateral spacing between the 5 6 pair of shoulders of the other frame; whereby the op- References Cited in the file of this patent posed frames locate each other laterally in position at UNITED STATES PATENTS opposite ends by coaction between the shoulders of the one frame and the longitudinal members of the opposing 815,061 Benofi et a1 1906 frame when the frames are in opposed coacting relation- 5 1270540 Morse June 1918 ship, the shoulders and longitudinal members coasting 135L053 Macklem 1920 top and bottom to locate the frames laterally in position 1,771,985 Hlflrfi July 1930 top and bottom, and whereby the frame and spacing 2,466,284 Smme 1949 means combination together with an article clamped be- 2,521,100 Suplette Sept 1950 tween them may be suspended by the hooks of the one 10 25771397 Balley .5 f ame, and whereby a drip tray may be suspended from 2664899 Amas 1954 the depending hooks of the other frame. 2,897,973 Sizemore 1959 

